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Tag Archives: Autun

We woke up to a beautiful frosty morning in La Porte d’Alsace on Monday, with icicles hanging from the wheel’s arch below the heating outlet, with the thermometer saying -2°C.

We set off on the D419 again and A36 past Belfort and Montbéliard to junction 7, as we needed to do a shop, and tried our luck on the national road D633 and got lucky at L’Isle-le-Doubs, where we found an Intermarché to buy provisions for the next 3 days. From there, it was a short drive to Baume-les-Dames, which we found covered in frost and were spoilt for choice of pitches at this large aire, as there was only one more van getting ready to leave. We hooked up and filled up with water and, after lunch, had a lovely long walk along the canal and river Doubs. The Reception hut at the motorhome aire opened at 5.30pm for payments, by which time there were about 8 motorhomes to stay for the night. The fee was €9.90, which is a fair price to pay this time of year, as it is good of them to keep the water and services running in freezing weather.

Our spot at aire in Baume-les-Dames

Motorhome aire and Marina from far side of canal

Beautiful colours in Baume-les-Dames

Baume-les-Dames and bridge

I loved the original Christmas decorations outside this house!

We left in the morning a bit later than usual to give the frost a chance to melt and carried on the A36 past Besançon and Dole to Seurre in the Saône-et-Loire, where we stopped for the day yesterday. The aire here has been moved to behind a line of alpine trees and it is not on the Marina itself and, as there was an old caravan parked there, we decided to park closer to the Capitainerie to enjoy the view of the Marina and the river. This is a very pleasant stop with a nice walk along the river and into town, but not much to do there, as the museum and church were both shut, which we thought would have been interesting to visit. Maybe some other time…

The lovely walk on the river Saône at Seurre

Pretty Seurre on river Saône

From Seurre, we followed the D973 past Beaune to Autun, where we had anextended coffee break this morning at the aire by lake and Roman Theatre. The lake had been drained to get all the fish out, but the walk through the Roman Theatre was quite a treat, despite the heavy fog, and we thought it might be nice to return in spring when the lake has been filled again and to visit the rest of the town. On the way out, we saw the two Roman Gates too, which are quite impressive.

A very atmospheric Roman Theatre in the fog, Autun

The Roman Theatre with stage at Autun

You have to admire these ancient walls

Close up of Roman bricks

Roman gate at Autun

Roman gate on our way out of Autun

Still seeking a lake, we headed north on the D960 to Lac des Settons, near Montsauche-les-Settons, part of the Grands Lacs du Morvan, where we finally stopped for the day and night. It really is beautiful here and I can see this would be a very popular summer holiday resort, as there are various outlets for boat rides around the lake, as well as bars, restaurants, hotels and a campsite. We went for a long walk around the lake and both sides seem perfect for a family summer holiday.